Few family milestones are as significant as the first day of kindergarten. That first year in the classroom can set the tone for a child’s K-12 career.
That’s why Simpson’s Early Childhood Program and Children and Youth Services Program staff got together and held the first ever Kamp Kindergarten at the agency’s new office: three days full of fun activities and learning to help prepare the campers for first day of school. Young participants gearing up for kindergarten practiced important developmental skills through activities such using scissors, and painting, and games.
One of the favorite activities for the campers was an alphabet scavenger hunt that sent them on a search for letters hidden throughout the office. On the last day of camp, the children’s parents and caregivers joined them so they could be ready for the big day, too.
Parent engagement in their children’s education, as well as success in early education, are good indicators of a child’s success in school overall. Education is a key tool in breaking cycles of generational poverty and homelessness.
“For some children, [kindergarten] is the first time away from their families,” Early Childhood Program Manager Nedra Robinson says. It’s a big social leap for everyone involved, and when children feel prepared and confident, their guardians tend to feel that way, too.
Kamp Kindergarten also happened to coincide with the culmination of Sankofa, a nine-week literacy program led by the Network for the Development of Children of African Descent (NdCAD). It’s a culturally specific resource that allows children to feel proud of and excited about learning as they work on meeting and exceeding grade-level expectations.
NdCAD has tailored this program specifically for children of African descent. As young participants build their reading skills, they also get more exposure to stories and ideas created by and for Africans and African Americans. That’s particularly important given how insufficient housing and poverty disproportionately impact BIPOC community members. All children deserve to see themselves represented in a tradition of learning and excellence.
This is the second year Simpson has worked with NdCAD to offer Sankofa to participants, and advocates and families alike have been thrilled with the results. While most students tend to lose ground during the summer months, these Sankofa participants have all seen gains in their reading skills and school readiness.
“This year, every child moved up at least one guided reading level, and some moved up two,” Children and Youth Programs Manager Jocelyn Pickreign says.
These unique programs at Simpson connect participants to opportunities like Kamp Kindergarten and Sankofa, and provide space for friendships, networks, and community to grow.